Pen Blows It Again as Phillies Lose in 10

In what could have been Cole Hamels’ final start in front of the home crowd, he waged a war with one of the best pitchers in the NL, Matt Cain. The two pitched, and hit, their way to a draw. However, Jonathan Papelbon again failed in a non-save situation, allowing the Giants to prevail 6-5 in 10 innings.

OH, BULLPEN

-Jonathan Papelbon is really, really good at times. And then it’s like the switch goes off. The switch was on in the ninth as he retired the Giants in order. In the 10th, he fell apart and allowed San Fran to score on a bunt single by Gregor Blanco that plated Melky Cabrera. He would load the bases, but eventually worked his way out of it. Too late, damage done. And any thought you had of the Phillies making the playoffs – if you still had any – should be gone.

-Charlie Manuel basically just said “eff this, I’m running with my horses today.” They didn’t get it done, but you can’t fault him for going that route.

HAMELS v. CAIN – ON THE MOUND

-Yes, the two homered off each other. But the pitching matchup wasn’t as advertised. Hamels and Cain each allowed five runs and both gave up three homers to the opposition. I assumed this would be a pitchers duel, as I’m sure many other did – but it was not to be.

-Hamels: – 7 2/3 innings, 10 hits, five runs, three walks, six strikeouts, three HR. The last time he allowed three homers in a game was June 26, 2010 against Toronto. Hamels threw 128 pitches, the fourth highest total in the majors this season. Only Johan Santana in his no-hitter (134), Edinson Volquez (133), and Justin Verlander (131) have higher totals this year. He was unable to finish the eighth, but did get a stand ovation as he walked off the field. Will it be his last start in Philadelphia? I don’t think so; but you never know.

-Cain: eight innings, five hits, five runs two walks, four strikeouts. Didn’t think the Phillies would get him for three homers in this one. And if you did think the Phillies had a chance to do some damage against him, you probably would have thought the Phils would win.

HOMERS ARE FUN UNLESS THEY HAPPEN TO YOU

-Cole Hamels and Matt Cain were attempting to outdo each other at every turn. They both homered, becoming the first pitchers to homer off each other in the same game since Kevin Millwood & Denny Stark on 5/18/02, according to Jayson Stark. Also from Stark: the last time a Phillies pitcher hit a homer and allowed one to a pitcher in the same game: 8/18/25, Johnny Couch vs. Dolf Luque (Reds). Remember those two?

Last pitchers to homer off each other in same inning: Kevin Gross and Fernando Valenzulea, 5/14/90 in the 3rd inning. As always, great stuff from Stark.

-Also getting in on the fun was Chase Utley in the first inning and Buster Posey in the third innings. Utley launched his into the second deck in right field on a 3-2 fastball from Cain. It’s the old swing we know and love.Chase owns Cain in his career, too. He’s now 8-for-2- against him with 4 homers.

-How about that Ryan Howard? He launched a three-run bomb to right field in the sixth off Cain. Man, it’s good to see that swing again. And he’s at about 80-85 percent of himself.

-Melky Cabrera got in on the fun in the top of the eighth, off Hamels. He tied it at five with a homer to left field. That pretty much sums up the season as the Phillies cannot hold leads very well.

I think it’s mostly the Phils inability. You certainly can’t lose sight of the Nats improved starting pitching (Stras, Gio and Edwin Jackson weren’t there last year, and to varying degrees have been assets), but when you come down to it, the Marlins are only modestly improved over last year, and the Mets are about the same. They might seem better, but they had Beltran and Reyes last year for H1, and might seem better than they are because they have exceeded low expectations. It’s a better division, but not significantly.

I don’t know how bad the Phils are. Declining or not, Howard and Utley are still assets rounding out spring training equivelancy in several more days. That opinion is just as players, not meaures of even potential compared to pay. Contreras would have made a big difference in the pen…depending on a 41 year old with his injury history is a slightly different story. But everyone’s had injuries anyway. I know the Phils aren’t a championship club, but just how bad they are, I’m not sure.

I think with your #3 and #4 hitters in there from the beginning and a better bullpen that the Phils would be right there in the mix. Big changes to the pen and at least a reasonably healthy Utley and Howard and the Phillies should be ready to compete next season….at least better than they are right now.

I’d take a one year flyer on Madson in the offseason. He’ll be cheap enough coming off TJ surgery and could be a nice veteran piece to the pen. Add in a healthy Herndon (who really didn’t pitch badly last year) and Justin DeFratus (who has really good stuff) and this pen could once again be the effective unit that we’ve been accustomed to.

I’ve said this from the start-Papelbon is one of the worst signings the Phillies have made in the last 5 years. Ibanez will have given the team more value for the money than Papelbon will over the course of his contract. Papelbon’s mental lapses and command issues are becoming very very troubling. Maybe we can get Madson back and trade Papelbon next July when Madson is recovered from his surgery.

Deep breaths. In, Out. In, Out. The Phils aren’t making the playoffs and we’ve known that for some time. Love seeing Howard and utley starting to get there. Use them sparingly and save them for next year. Phils go a top 20 organizational prospect for Thome. Repeat that 4 times while retaining Hamels and the future is very bright. Galvis proved he’s a major leaguer if not now, soon. A great asset to have as a utility infielder behind Utley and rollins.

Keep the faith. RAJ’s biggest off season is right now at the trade deadline!

I knew the Phils were 17-29 at home. Which is south of sucks on the top to bottom line. And I figured why complain, everyone knows it, but then, in this morning’s Inky, they break it down a little further…

“The Phillies have lost seven straight at home, have the worst winning percentage at home (.370) in baseball, and have lost nine of 15 series at Citizens Bank Park.”

Skip the breakdown of injuries, and failings of many collective and individual players on this not so fine edition of the Phils. This record is pathetic. And no “that’s baseball” explanation is gonna cut it. And despite the bad year, they are 1 under even on the road.

Who the hell plays .370 baseball at home? Are the quiet crowds THAT demotivating?

How do you lose 7 straight at home? Even 1-6 would make an ounce of sense.

This is gonna sound like an excuse and probably come out wrong but I think there is definitely something to the whole closer thing…his role, how many innings, tie game, etc. My point is that Paps was definitely more pumped in the 9th inning as opposed to the 10th. I get why Charlie brought him back out for the 10th….Paps only threw 6 pitches in the 9th and there is really nobody else he feels he can trust. Charlie’s definitely in a tough spot and I don’t blame him at all.

However, I could have made a strong case for bring out KK for the 10th. I think the bullpen is where he needs to be and he’s been pretty good lately late in games. He’s a veteran that’s actually proven he can get the job done…at least moreso than these younsters they have right now.

All that said, with only 6 pitches thrown, Paps needed to be sharper than he was in the 10th. For the money he’s getting he needs to somehow change his approach at times and figure out how to get “lathered up” for that second inning of work.

“-Charlie Manuel basically just said “eff this, I’m running with my horses today.” They didn’t get it done, but you can’t fault him for going that route.”

I’m not usually critical of Charlie’s pitching decisions because it’s too easy to second guess, and this year with what little he’s had to work with, his own moves have had to be guesses to begin with. But in this case I think Manuel can and should be faulted. Hamels should never have started the eighth. He was never particularly sharp and had already thrown a ton of pitches. It should have been obvious that he was done; that a more rested arm would likely have been better.

I also don’t agree that Papelbon was all that bad. The walk wasn’t so good, but that happens even to the best. The two hits were a blooper and a bunt. He wasn’t exactly pounded. Papelbon hasn’t lived up to fan’s demanding expectations maybe, but he’s also being used in situations closers aren’t generally picked for.

hey guys what are your thoughts on trying to trade a package to the padres including kendrick for headley and moving worely to the pen for eight inning dutie? and also bring up cloyd and givr him a half year of seasoningm to see if he has what it takes. since we aren’y gonna make the playoffs now would be a good time to see what we have to determine what we’ll need next year. if they sign hamels i’d trade lee to texas for one or both of their prospects olt and profar. but if headley’s hear we could move olt to left. trade vic for whatever you could get, and trade rollins to the a’s for balfour and micheal taylor. sign bourne and madson to a one year deal. whatta you guys think?

i forgot about blanton! i’m up in the air about him. if they signed him ehhhhh, but he is a decent #4-5. if he goes ?????? also the other alterative is if they can’t sign hamels then he’s the one i’d send to texas instead of lee. i feel as though if they made those moves it would be cost effective, shore up the positions we’re weak on and also add some outfield depth. we’d still be very competitive and the bullpen would look pretty good. the team would have more power, speed, and youth. and in the off season do what els to tweak the roster and we could content right away. just some thoughts fellas.

actually chuck no i’m not joking just throwing it out there for you guys to think about. yea i agree with you i love worley as a starter don’t get me wrong. i’d have no problem if he stayed one. but since he seems to tire and throws a lot of pitches he gets in trouble around the 5th . he does have good stuff and the first 4 innings i think he’s one of the best starters. and i think he’d be a really good door slammer in the eighth, they say he doesn’t have S.O. stuff but for a guy how doesn’t he sure gets a lot of them. so i thought he’d be good there. most of the relievers today were once starters. as far as KK goes which KK shows up on any given outing? yea he’s been pretty good in the pen but if you can solve a 3rd base issue i say do it! beside someone once said i’d take a good or better player who plays every day that a guy who plays every 5th day or spots out of the pen! now i agree with that only if you can rep;acve that pitcher with someone equall or better and still get the every day guy that’s all chuck my man.

The other thing is if the Phillies were to trade for Mike Olt he would be the 3B of the future….a glaring need right now. Putting him in left field defeats the purpose of trading for him in the first place. I actually think the Phils have a better chance of doing some kind of deal with Texas involving him and Cliff Lee than I think they will be trading partners with the Padres for Headley.